40 Indian construction workers kidnapped in Iraq

NEW DELHI — India's Foreign Ministry says 40 Indian citizens working for a Turkish construction company near the Iraqi town of Mosul have been kidnapped.

The Associated Press

NEW DELHI — India's Foreign Ministry says 40 Indian citizens working for a Turkish construction company near the Iraqi town of Mosul have been kidnapped.

Ministry spokesman Syed Akbaruddin confirmed the kidnapping today. He said the government has been unable to contact the workers.

There are about 10,000 Indian citizens working and living in Iraq. Akbaruddin said only about 100 are in violent, insecure areas. That includes the construction workers near Mosul as well as 46 Indian nurses working in a hospital in the Iraqi town of Tikrit.

Akbaruddin said humanitarian organizations have been in touch with the nurses, who are safe and have been advised to avoid travel by road.